UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Date, Time, Location, How To Watch Or Stream
The next event on the 2025 UFC schedule is nearly upon us. That fight card, UFC Abu Dhabi, takes place on Saturday, July 26, and is headlined by a pivotal middleweight matchup. In the UFC Fight Night main event, former UFC middleweight champion Robert Whittaker looks to turn back rising 185-pound contender Reinier De Ridder. The UFC on ABC card has an early start, which is a rarity.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Date
Saturday, July 26, 2025
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Location
Etihad Arena in Yas Island
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: How to Watch Or Stream
Main Card: ABC
Preliminary Card: ESPN and ESPN+
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Fight Card Time
Prelims: Noon ET
Main Card: 3:00 p.m. ET
UFC Abu Dhabi Main Event: Robert Whittaker Vs. Renier de Ridder
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 17: Robert Whittaker of New Zealand prepares to face Paulo Costa of ... More Brazil in their middleweight fight during UFC 298 at Honda Center on February 17, 2024 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Whittaker (26-8) is the No. 5 fighter in the official UFC middleweight rankings. Whittaker is 15-4 with the UFC since June 2014. His only losses have come to Israel Adesanya, Dricus du Plessis, and Khamzat Chimaev. Adesanya is a former UFC middleweight champ. Du Plessis is the current UFC 185-pound champion, and Chimaev is scheduled to face Du Plessis in a title fight at UFC 319 in August. In short, the 34-year-old is the gate keeper to the elite of the division.
Whittaker is coming off a nasty submission loss to Chimaev at UFC 308 in October 2024.
DES MOINES, IOWA - MAY 03: Reinier de Ridder of The Netherlands reacts after his TKO victory over Bo ... More Nickal in their middleweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at Wells Fargo Arena on May 03, 2025 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)
De Ridder (20-2) has been climbing the UFC middleweight ladder since he joined the promotion after holding the ONE middleweight and light heavyweight titles. The 34-year-old is No. 13 in the UFC 185-pound division. He is 3-0 with the promotion with stoppage wins over Gerald Meerschaert, Kevin Holland and Bo Nickal. His win over Nickal was his most recent victory, coming in May of this year.
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Main Card
Robert Whittaker vs. Reinier de Ridder - Middleweight
Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee - Bantamweight
Sharabutdin Magomedov vs. Marc-André Barriault - Middleweight
Asu Almabayev vs. Jose Ochoa - Flyweight
Nikita Krylov vs. Bogdan Guskov - Light heavyweight
UFC Abu Dhabi Fight Card: Preliminary Card
Bryce Mitchell vs. Said Nurmagomedov - Bantamweight
Muslim Salikhov vs. Carlos Leal Miranda - Welterweight
Davey Grant vs. Da'Mon Blackshear - Bantamweight
Amanda Ribas vs. Tabatha Ricci - Strawweight
İbo Aslan vs. Billy Elekana - Light heavyweight
Mohammad Yahya vs. Steven Nguyen - Featherweight
Martin Buday vs. Marcus Buchecha - Heavyweight
We will have more on the UFC Abu Dhabi fight card, including results, reactions and highlights on fight night.
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Many wondered just who this Reinier de Ridder person was when he arrived in the UFC following a champion run with ONE. But nobody is questioning him now. De Ridder knocked off former UFC champion Robert Whittaker in a razor-close five-round battle that headlined the UFC on ABC event from Abu Dhabi. After 25 minutes of action, de Ridder was awarded the split decision. MORE: UFC 320 main event to feature championship rematch For the 34-year-old, it was one of the biggest wins of his career. Prior to joining the UFC, de Ridder was a middleweight and light heavyweight champion in ONE, a top promotion based out of Asia. He made his UFC debut in 2024 and is 4-0 since with three finishes. The co-main event saw former champion Petr Yan top Marcus McGhee, as Sharabutdin Magomedov, Asu Almabayev and Bogdan Guskov were also main card winners. Magomedov and Marc-Andre Barriault earned "Fight of the Night" while Muslim Salikhov and Steven Nguyen picked up "Performance of the Night" bonuses. UFC Abu Dhabi Results Reinier de Ridder def. Robert Whittaker via split decision Petr Yan def. Marcus McGhee via unanimous decision Sharabutdin Magomedov def. Marc-Andre Barriault via unanimous decision Asu Almabayev def. Jose Ochoa via unanimous decision Bogdan Guskov def. Nikita Krylov via KO (strike) at 4:18 of Round 1 Bryce Mitchell def. Said Nurmagomedov via unanimous decision Muslim Shalikhov def. Carlos Leal Miranda via KO (strike) at :42 of Round 1 Davey Grant def. Da'Mon Blackshear via unanimous decision Tabatha Ricci def. Amanda Ribas via TKO (strikes) at 2:59 of Round 2 Billy Elekana def. Ibo Aslan via unanimous decision Steven Nguyen def. Mohammad Yahya via TKO (eye injury) at 5:00 of Round 2 Martin Buday def. Marcus Buchecha via unanimous decision MORE COMBAT SPORTS NEWS: UFC 320 ticket prices revealed How much are tickets for next Noches UFC event? Tom Aspinall received first heavyweight title defense date, opponent
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